By Michael Lindsay
Friday’s UCR Game of the Week lived up to the hype as the York Institute Dragons took down the Stone Memorial Panthers, 14-7, to stay undefeated on the season.
“I’m proud of my guys,” said York head coach Derwin Wright. “They played their hearts out. We knew this was going to be a heck of a game. Hats off to the defense again. Offensively, the O-Line stepped up and we were able to get that (first down) at the end.”
The Dragons entered Friday’s game as the #1-ranked team in Class 2A according to the Associated Press while Stone Memorial was ranked #8 in Class 4A.
The Dragons were led offensively by the combo of running back Blake Voiles and quarterback Myles Leffew. Voiles scored both York touchdowns while rushing for 75 yards while Leffew posted 90 rushing yards.
Defensively, Voiles recorded 7 tackles to lead the Dragons.
Stone Memorial scored on the game’s opening possession as the Panthers drove 64 yards to for a score capped off by a 27-yard touchdown run by Maddox Oquendo. Following the PAT, the Panthers held a 7-0 lead with 9:36 left in the first period.
The teams traded empty possessions until the Dragons found the end zone with 10:06 remaining in the second quarter via a 4-yard touchdown run by Blake Voiles to tie the contest at 7-7.
After forcing a Stone punt, York drove the field on their next drive as Voiles again scored from 4 yards out to give the Dragons a 14-7 lead with 5:58 remaining until halftime.
The score would stand until the break as York held a 14-7 advantage over Stone Memorial.
The second half belonged to the York Institute defense as they turned the Stone Memorial offense over on downs 3 times and intercepted a pass to shut out the Panthers in the final two periods.
Stone Memorial threatened early in the fourth quarter as the Panthers took over at the York 30-yard following a turnover on downs.
The possession was short-lived as York Institute’s Aiden Sweathomas intercepted a Stone Memorial pass at the 6-yard line to turn the Panthers away.
Stone Memorial had one more shot late as they drove to the York 40-yard line before the Dragons forced a turnover on downs with 54 seconds left to seal the 14-7 victory.
York Institute improves to 7-0 overall while Stone Memorial falls to 6-2.
The Panthers are off next week while York Institute travels to defending Division II-A state champion Friendship Christian (6-1) on Friday.
